The question is: What can a few games do — Watson was also dominant in the semifinals against Ohio State — to his status for the NFL draft in April?

“Right here, on Jan. 10, he’s right there in the discussion for me as the top quarterback [in the draft],” NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis said in a phone interview. “Some people think he’s in the discussion behind [North Carolina quarterback Mitch] Trubisky as the No. 2 quarterback [in the draft].

“What you’re going to hear is he’s a first-round quarterback. I would be surprised if he’s not evaluated by a lot of teams as a first-round guy, but the question is how high.”

The latest CBSSports.com mock draft, posted after the semifinal, has Watson going sixth overall to the Jets, but as the third quarterback taken, after Trubisky (second to the 49ers) and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer (third to the Bears). An SBNation.com mock draft posted before the title game has Watson third to the Bears, and a Sports Illustrated mock draft from Jan. 3 has Watson as the first quarterback off the board, to the 49ers. Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft, put out Tuesday, also had Watson second to the 49ers and the first quarterback taken.

“I’ve already talked to people who were extremely impressed. They liked him before and now they really like him,” Davis said. “If you weren’t crazy about him, or if you weren’t totally there, that game will give you a little extra, ‘Hey, I better take a closer look at this guy.’”

Other experts disagree, pointing to his high interception total this year and inconsistent accuracy.

In early December, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. wrote that Trubisky was the only first-round quarterback he saw in the draft, and believed Watson had regressed. He said the same thing Tuesday, after Watson destroyed an Alabama defense flush with NFL prospects for the second straight year, and has him rated as a second-round pick.

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“Watson had an up-and-down season, and I thought he took a step back in decision-making from his stellar sophomore season. His 17 interceptions — and 30 over the past two seasons — are worrisome,” Kiper wrote. “He has shown that he can make every throw that an NFL quarterback needs to make, but his lapses in decision-making hurt Clemson in the middle of the season. He didn’t play like a first-round pick. He was much, much better down the stretch of the season, including on Monday night, but scouts aren’t going to overreact to one game, good or bad. They’ll take his entire tape into account.”

Indeed, Davis agrees the national championship game will not change opinions. It also was obvious Watson was the best player on the field against Alabama, living up to his clutch reputation.

“I love his moxie, I love the way he attacks, I love the way he has a bounce-back in his game, because [Monday] night didn’t start that well,” Davis said. “I love the fact he can run the football, has that mobility, and I really love the fact on a big-game stage, this guys turns it up.

“You can make the case he’s been the dominant player out there on the field against Oklahoma, Ohio State and Alabama twice the last two years. Big-game stage, this guy is ready to play.”